Ingram was born in Houston, Texas. He started writing songs and performing while studying psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he was member of Alpha Tau Omega.
Jack Ingram began his music career singing at a privately owned bar near the TCU campus of Fort Worth, Texas, which was owned by his friend John Clay Wolfe. Later, during the early 1990s, Jack toured the state of Texas opening for Mark Chesnutt and other acts. His first release was his self-titled album in 1995 via the Rhythmic label, followed by 1995's Lonesome Questions. Warner Bros. Records eventually signed him and released a live album entitled Live at Adair's, and re-issued his first two indie albums.
In 1997 he had his first and only time on the 22nd season of Austin City Limits. That same year, he released Livin' or Dyin' via Rising Tide Records, which produced his first chart single in the No. 51-peaking "Flutter". Two years later came Hey You via Lucky Dog, a division of Epic Records, which accounted for a No. 64 country single in "How Many Days". In 2000, he collaborated with Charlie Robison and Bruce Robison for the live album Unleashed Live.
Electric, his second album for Lucky Dog, was also his first album to enter Top Country Albums, despite not producing a chart single. This album was supplemented a year later by an EP entitled Electric: Extra Volts before he left Lucky Dog. Two more live albums followed before he signed to Columbia Records for the release of Young Man in 2004, which accounted for no singles. Another live album, Acoustic Motel, was issued in 2005.
On Sunday, February 3, 2013, H-E-B premiered their 'Texas Myths' Super Bowl commercial featuring Jack Ingram.
In 2005, Ingram signed to the independent record label Big Machine Records. Under the Big Machine banner, Ingram released a predominantly live album entitled Live: Wherever You Are. His first single release on that record label, "Wherever You Are", became Ingram's first top 40, and later his first Number One single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, as well as the first Number One for the Big Machine label. "Love You", the only other studio track on Live: Wherever You Are, was also released as a single, peaking at No. 12 on the charts. This song was also recorded by Trent Summar & the New Row Mob (whose frontman, Trent Summar, co-wrote it) on their 2005 album Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. This is also where he met famous country music artist Taylor Swift. Jack stated they were developing a relationship though she wasn't interested.
In late 2006, Ingram released a cover of Hinder's song "Lips of an Angel". Ingram's cover peaked at No. 16 on the country charts "Lips of an Angel" was the lead-off single to This Is It, his second album for Big Machine. This album also produced the No. 18 "Measure of a Man" (a Radney Foster co-write) and the No. 24 "Maybe She'll Get Lonely".
In 2008, Ingram appeared at the Argyle Education Foundation Black Diamond Affiar.
He won the Academy of Country Music award for top new male vocalist on May 19, 2008. Ingram also filled in for radio host Bob Kingsley on the countdown show "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40" for the week of September 20–21, 2008.
According to CMT, Ingram's Big Dreams & High Hopes album has "more guts" and Ellis Paul's "The World Ain't Slowing Down" may be the song that takes Ingram to the "next level". Ingram says "It'll be fun for me to expose people to a fantastic song from an artist who's had a 20-year career of being a very successful folk artist." The song was cut from the album. Its lead-off single "That's a Man" charted in the Top 20, followed by "Barefoot and Crazy," which became his second Top 10 hit. The album's next three singles all failed to enter the Top 40: "Seeing Stars" (a duet with Patty Griffin), "Free" and a re-recording of "Barbie Doll" with guest vocals from Dierks Bentley.
On August 26, 2009, Ingram set a Guinness record for the most radio interviews in one day, when he was interviewed 215 times.
Ingram and Big Machine amicably parted ways in late 2011.
As a sideline, Ingram does voice imaging for a number of country stations, including KRYS-FM Corpus Christi; WSIX-FM Nashville; WMIL-FM Milwaukee; KWJJ-FM Portland, Ore.; and KSCS Dallas.
In 2013, Jack teamed up with actor Matthew McConaughey and University of Texas at Austin football coach Mack Brown to create a fundraiser for their favorite children's charities. Dubbed Mack, Jack & McConaughey, the affair was held April 11–12 at Austin's ACL Live at the Moody Theater and featured a gala, golf tournament, fashion show and two nights of music. Mack, Jack & McConaughey returned in 2014.
Don't Want To Hurt
Jack Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find a reason
If this world can hand out such a beatin'
And they don't wanna hurt anymore
When we were young it all seemed to be easy
Everything within reach
One broken heart and we're retreatin'
Don't want to, don't want to
Don't want to hurt anymore
But you look at me and you say you feel sorry
But you never understood
And you never knew the things I wanted
I just don't wanna hurt anymore
I keep trying to explain myself and figure
Why bother what's the use
I finally realized that all that matters is
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Don't want to, don't want to
Don't want to hurt anymore
I look around and all I see is people
Trying to find a reason
But this world hands out such a beatin'
And they don't wanna hurt anymore
Don't want to, don't want to
Don't want to hurt anymore
Don't want to, don't want to
Don't want to hurt anymore
Don't want to, don't want to
Don't want to hurt anymore
The lyrics to Jack Ingram's song, “Don't Want To Hurt,” express the desire of many individuals to avoid pain, specifically emotional pain. The first verse paints a picture of people searching for a reason to endure the harsh realities of the world we live in. It seems as though life has dealt them a blow, and they are trying to avoid further pain. They don't want to hurt anymore.
The second verse introduces the idea that life might have been easier when we were young. Our hearts were not yet battered and bruised, and we had not yet experienced the pain of loss. The broken heart of a youthful love is significant, but it seems much easier to bounce back. We retreat at the first sign of pain because we don't want to hurt anymore.
The chorus, "Don't want to, don't want to, don't want to hurt anymore," is repeated throughout the song. It is a haunting melancholy melody that emphasizes the pain the singer is feeling. He has been hurt before, and he doesn't want to go through it again. The third verse is a conversation between the singer and someone trying to comfort him. The person expresses sympathy for the emotional pain the singer is feeling. Still, the singer thinks that the other person doesn't understand and couldn't possibly know the things he wants. All the singer knows is he doesn't want to hurt anymore.
In conclusion, Jack Ingram's song, “Don't Want To Hurt,” beautifully captures the complexities of emotional pain. The lyrics remind us of the desire to avoid pain and the lengths we'll go to protect ourselves from it. Pain is an inevitable part of life, but we all cling to the hope that we won't have to hurt anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
I look around and all I see is people
The singer observes people everywhere searching for meaning in life
Trying to find a reason
People are constantly seeking a purpose in life
If this world can hand out such a beatin'
The singer reflects on the cruel world's nature of inflicting pain on people
And they don't wanna hurt anymore
People tire of the world's brutality and long to escape the pain
When we were young it all seemed to be easy
The artist recalls their youth where everything appeared simple and accessible
Everything within reach
The world was once easy to manage for the singer
One broken heart and we're retreatin'
After one heartbreak, the singer would withdraw from potential hurt in future relationships
'Cause we don't wanna hurt anymore
The pain and suffering of heartbreak and other harm makes people want to avoid the potential of similar experiences
Don't want to, don't want to
Repetition of the phrase emphasizes the desire to avoid any more pain
But you look at me and you say you feel sorry
The artist notes that other people pity them but don't comprehend the full range of their experiences
But you never understood
The singer concludes their past pain was never appreciated or understood by others
And you never knew the things I wanted
The artist laments that their desires and actions are misunderstood or went unnoticed
I just don't wanna hurt anymore
The singer reiterates the desire to escape from pain
I keep trying to explain myself and figure
The singer constantly attempts to make sense of their experiences and communicate them
Why bother what's the use
The singer questions the purpose and rationale behind their ongoing clarification to others
I finally realized that all that matters is
The artist arrives at a critical realization that the only meaningful thing is escaping further pain
I don't wanna hurt anymore
The artist repeats this phrase to express the primary motive behind their self-examination and communication
Don't want to, don't want to
Repetition of the phrase emphasizes the determination to avoid any additional pain
Don't want to, don't want to
Repetition of the phrase reiterates the singer's reluctance to endure any more pain
Don't want to, don't want to
Repeating this phrase emphasizes a strong desire to avoid the causes of pain
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHRIS MASTERSON, JACK INGRAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind